Scout marks beach miles

It's a simple idea, but no one had thought about it before Andrew Domingoes.

Domingoes, 16, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Nease High School, sat down in the spring to think of a project to become an Eagle Scout and came up with a system of mile markers for the beach, a la the interstate.

He presented his color- and number-coded system at a meeting of county, police and rescue officials Friday and hit a home run.

The 8-inch-by-11-inch placards have been placed atop trash can stands on Anastasia Island, making it easy for beachgoers to tell 911 dispatchers where they are in case of missing kids, swimmers in distress or other emergencies.

Sgt. Steve Briggs, who oversees beach patrol for the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, said it will also help deputies, particularly those who don't routinely work on the beach.

The 109 signs are placed roughly every one-tenth of a mile on the beach, which Domingoes broke down into eight colored zones.

Each zone begins with No. 1, with the numbers increasing to the south.

It will be a few months before he finds out whether he'll become an Eagle Scout.

Blevins doubts he'll have a problem.

He said he works with about five Eagle Scout prospects on their projects every year and has for roughly the past 20 years.

And, he told Domingoes, "You're the best."

At the end of his presentation Friday, Domingoes asked if there were any questions.